XN000022-1976-04-26 — Page 3

- 2 -

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1976

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MARCH

******

THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) FOR MARCH 1976 WAS 110, TWO POINTS HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY THREE POINTS. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH WATER FISH, PORK AND FRESH VEGETABLES ADVANCED WHILE THOSE OF SALT WATER FISH AND LIVE POULTRY DECLINED.

FOLLOWING THE UPWARD REVISION IN THE FARES, CHARGED BY THE CHINA MOTOR BUS, THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES ROSE BY THREE POINTS.

A RISE OF ONE POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR HOUSING AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE RENTS OF PRIVATE DWELLINGS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECLINED BY THREE POINTS, DUE MAINLY TO LOWER PRICES FOR SOME ITEMS OF MEN'S, WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S OUTERCLOTHING.

MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES EOR OTHER SECTIONS OF COMMODITY AND SERVICE WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR MARCH 1976 WAS 110, ONE POINT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

A RISE OF TWO POINTS WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH WATER FISH, FRESH VEGETABLES AND MEALS BOUGHT. AWAY FROM HOME ADVANCED WHILE THAT OF LIVE POULTRY DECLINED.

FOLLOWING THE UPWARD REVISION IN THE FARES CHARGED BY CHINA MOTOR BUS, THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES ROSE BY THREE POINTS.

A RISE OF ONE POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR HOUSING AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE RENTS OF PRIVATE DWELLINGS.

AN INCREASE OF ONE POINT WAS ALSO RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECLINED BY TWO POINTS, DUE MAINLY TO LOWER PRICES FOR SOME ITEMS OF MEN'S, WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S OUTERCLOTHING.

DECREASES OF ONE POINT EACH WERE ALSO RECORDED IN THE INDEXES

FOR FUEL AND LIGHT, AND MISCELLANEOUS GOODS.

MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR OTHER SECTIONS OF COMMODITY AND SERVICE WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

13